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WhatsApp message calls minister ‘guru ghantaal’: Chhattisgarh High Court grants anticipatory bail to accused

Guru Ghantaal Remark Case News: Justice Ramesh Sinha was hearing the plea of a man, who circulated a message in which he allegedly used the term "Guru Ghantaal" for the state cabinet minister Guru Khushwant Saheb.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 18, 2025 11:45 AM IST

Chhattisgarh high court bail: Chhattisgarh High Court granted anticipatory bail to a man who allegedly called state minister Guru Khushwant Saheb (in pic) 'Guru Ghantaal' over WhatsApp text. (pic from FB profile)

Guru Ghantaal Remark Case News: In a peculiar case where a man called a state minister “guru ghantal”, a slang term attributing someone as a trickster, the Chhattisgarh High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to the accused.

Justice Ramesh Sinha was hearing the plea of one Jeevan Dewangan, who was booked under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of BNS at the local police station.

The order recorded that alleged incident took place after a dispute involving two Anganwadi workers, when the petitioner circulated a message and used the term “guru ghantaal” for the state cabinet minister Guru Khushwant Saheb Ji, who is revered by the Satnami community.

“Dewangan, had posted an objectionable message in the WhatsApp group of “BJP Mandal Thelkadih” on or about 13/11/2025,” the order read.

The complainants (minister’s followers) stated that the said remark was abusive, indecent and derogatory, and had intentionally hurt the religious sentiments of the community. It was further alleged that the accused later deleted the message from the WhatsApp group.

Saheb is an MLA from the Arang constituency of Chhattisgarh, currently, serving as a cabinet minister in the state government and holding portfolios like Skills Development, Technical Education, Employment, and Scheduled Caste Development.

Also Read | Delhi High Court censures order granting anticipatory bail to murder accused, calls it ‘perverse’, ‘unjustified’

A written complaint was lodged by District Satnami Samaj Khairagarh before the superintendent of police, District KCG, alleging that the petitioner had posted an objectionable message in the WhatsApp group of “BJP Mandal Thelkadih” on or about 13 November 2025.

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The Satnami Samaj submitted that the remark had caused deep insult, distress, and hurt communal feelings and requested strict legal action, stating that the petitioner has a prior criminal image.

Also Read | Explained: What is anticipatory bail, for which SC has removed time limits?

Arguments

Advocate Siddharth Pandey, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the petitioner is innocent and that he was falsely implicated in this case.

He further submitted that the alleged message was made in the context of an administrative/personal dispute and not with reference to any religious practice, deity, or religion.

He also submitted that there are two criminal antecedents registered against the petitioner, and both are disposed of, and investigation and trial are likely to take quite a long time for their conclusion; therefore, he prays for the grant of bail.

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Advocate Bharat Gulbani, representing the state, opposed the bail application and reiterated the allegations.

Jagriti Rai

Jagriti Rai works with The Indian Express, where she writes from the vital intersection of law, gender, and society. Working on a dedicated legal desk, she focuses on translating complex legal frameworks into relatable narratives, exploring how the judiciary and legislative shifts empower and shape the consciousness of citizens in their daily lives. Expertise Socio-Legal Specialization: Jagriti brings a critical, human-centric perspective to modern social debates. Her work focuses on how legal developments impact gender rights, marginalized communities, and individual liberties. Diverse Editorial Background: With over 4 years of experience in digital and mainstream media, she has developed a versatile reporting style. Her previous tenures at high-traffic platforms like The Lallantop and Dainik Bhaskar provided her with deep insights into the information needs of a diverse Indian audience. Academic Foundations: Post-Graduate in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India’s premier media training institute. Master of Arts in Ancient History from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), providing her with the historical and cultural context necessary to analyze long-standing social structures and legal evolutions. ... Read More